Veronica plant named ‘Allvnav’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Veronica  plant named ‘Allvnav’, characterized by its upright plant habit with relatively long stems; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; dense and relatively long inflorescences with numerous violet blue-colored flowers; and good performance as a garden plant and as a cut flower.

Botanical designation: Veronica longifolia x Veronica spicata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ALLVNAV’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR/APPLICANT &ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Assignee, All plants Holding B.V. of Cuijk, TheNetherlands on Jan. 23, 2020, application number 2020/0211. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from theInventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assigneeclaim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosureand/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior tothe effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Veronicaplant, botanically known as Veronica longifolia x Veronica spicata,typically grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by the name‘Allvnav’.

The new Veronica plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Cuijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new attractive Veronica plants withlong inflorescences with attractive flowers.

The new Veronica plant originated from an open-pollination in July, 2015of a proprietary selection of Veronica longifolia x Veronica spicataidentified as code number C14-3, not patented, as the female, or seed,parent with an unknown selection of Veronica longifolia x Veronicaspicata as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Veronica plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controllednursery environment in Cuijk, The Netherlands in July, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Veronica plant by terminal stem cuttingsin a controlled environment in Cuijk, The Netherlands, since September,2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Veronica plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Veronica have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Allvnav’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Allvnav’ as a new and distinct Veronica plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit with relatively long stems.    -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Dense and relatively long inflorescences with numerous violet        blue-colored flowers.    -   5. Good performance as a garden plant and as a cut flower.

Plants of the new Veronica differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Veronica have longer stems than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Veronica have thicker stems than plants of        the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Veronica can be compared to plants of Veronicalongifolia x Veronica spicata ‘Alllaguna’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 27,506. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Veronicadiffer primarily from plants of ‘Alllaguna’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Inflorescences of plants of the new Veronica do not express        any deformities and are relatively straight whereas        inflorescences of plants of ‘Alllaguna’ are typically fasciated        and twisting.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Veronica are slightly lighter in        color than flowers of plants of ‘Alllaguna’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the Veronica plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Veronica plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Allvnav’ grown in a container.

The photographs on the second sheet are close-up views of typicalinflorescences (FIG. 2) and typical leaves (FIG. 3) of ‘Allvnav’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following descriptionwere grown in ground beds and in 20-cm containers during the summer in ashade-covered outdoor nursery in Naivasha, Kenya and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Veronica production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 23° C. to 28° C.and night temperatures ranged from 7° C. to 12° C. Plants were one yearold when the photographs and the description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Veronica longifolia x Veronica spicata    ‘Allvnav’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Veronica            longifolia x Veronica spicata identified as code number            C14-3, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Veronica            longifolia x Veronica spicata, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 10 to 14 days at            temperatures ranging from 12° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 24 to 32            days at temperatures ranging from 12° C. to 30° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fleshy; typically white in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit with relatively            long stems; overall plant shape, oblong; moderately vigorous            growth habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 57.3            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 66.9            cm.        -   Plant width.—About 20.1 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely            branching habit with about three main stems; pinching will            enhance lateral branching. Length: About 41.5 cm. Diameter:            About 4 mm. Internode length: About 4.5 cm. Strength:            Strong. Aspect: About 7.5° from vertical. Texture and            luster: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color,            developing and developed: Close to 144A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls of three, simple.        -   Length.—About 6.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly ovate to lanceolate; slightly curled            downward, very slightly carinate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate to very short attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate; not lobed.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Moderately to densely            pubescent; not rugose; slightly glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Mostly glabrous with            exception of midvein which is densely pubescent; not rugose;            matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to between NN137A and            147A; venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close 147B; venation, close to 143B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm by            3 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper            surface: Close to 144B. Color, lower surface: Close to 144B;            towards the margins, close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single campanulate flowers            arranged on dense terminal compound racemes; flowers face            mostly outwardly.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 1,800            flowers developing per inflorescence.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants            flower continuously from the summer until the autumn in The            Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity.—Inflorescences last about 30 days on the            plant and about 10 days as a cut flower; flowers not            persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Shape: Elliptical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            matte. Color: Close to N88A; developing calyx, close to            143A.        -   Inflorescence height (length).—About 22 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7.5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 6 mm by 7 mm.        -   Flower height.—About 9 mm.        -   Throat diameter.—About 3.5 mm.        -   Tube length.—About 2 mm.        -   Tube diameter.—About 2.5 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a single whorl;            upper petal slightly broader than the lateral and lower            petals; petals fused about 40% of the petal length from the            base. Length, all petals: About 5 mm. Width, upper petal:            About 3 mm. Width, lateral and lower petals: About 2 mm.            Shape, upper petal: Obovate; moderately concave. Shape,            lateral and lower petals: Narrowly oblong; moderately            concave. Apex, all petals: Obtuse. Margin, all petals:            Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster, all petals, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and            luster, throat: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and luster,            tube: Densely pubescent; matte. Color, all petals: When            opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to N88A. Fully            opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 90B; color does            not change with development. Throat: Close to 90B; venation,            close to 90B. Tube: Close to 90C and fading proximally to            close to 155A; venation, close to 90C fading proximally to            close to 155A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four arranged in a single            whorl and fused at the base. Length: About 1 mm to 3 mm.            Width: About 1.25 mm. Shape: Ovate to broadly deltoid. Apex:            Acute to broadly acute. Base: Broadly cuneate, fused.            Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening,            upper surface: Close to 143B. When opening, lower surface:            Close to 143A. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close            to 138A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncles: About 21.7 cm.            Length, axillary peduncles: About 16.6 cm. Diameter,            terminal and axillary peduncles: About 3 mm. Aspect,            terminal peduncles: Upright. Aspect, axillary peduncles:            About 20° from terminal peduncle axis. Strength, terminal            and axillary peduncles: Strong. Texture and luster, terminal            and axillary peduncles: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy.            Color, terminal and axillary peduncles: Close to 144B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.            Aspect: About 60° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent; slightly            glossy. Color: Close to 197A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            not observed, if present, one or two. Filament length: About            6 mm. Filament color: Close to N88B. Anther shape: Short            oblong; dorsifixed. Anther size: About 1 mm by 0.5 mm.            Anther color: Close to N92C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: Close to 157A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 6.5 mm. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm.            Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to N92C.            Style length: About 6.25 mm. Style color: Close to N88A and            fading proximally to close to N88C. Ovary color: Close to            145B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development has            not been observed on plants of the new Veronica.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Veronica have    not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Veronica plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Veronica have exhibited good    garden performance and to be tolerant to rain, wind, temperatures    ranging from about −29° C. to about 35° C. and to be suitable for    USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Veronica plant named ‘Allvnav’ asillustrated and described.